Why you must watch the song ‘Fireflies’ by Owl City

‘Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet’.

-Alain de Botton

Owl City is a solo musical project by the multi-talented artist Adam Young. And ‘Fireflies’ is one of his most famous songs.

In the video, Adam is dressed for a cosy night at home. In his casual clothes he looks like someone we know. He is playing the piano the way music should probably be played…. absorbed in his music and with a certain gentleness. And he is surrounded by a multitude of toys. It appears to be the kind of end one would want to one’s day; surrounded by our favourite friends and pleasant music.

If you read the comments accompanying the video, you are bound to find plenty of comments on how this video evokes old memories. This song doesn’t fail to transport you away from wherever you are. You may be mopping the floor, or washing the dishes, or huddled around the laptop with your loved ones.

The nostalgia is understandable with any song that has been around for twelve years. The interesting thing is that I felt nostalgic for the past even when I heard the song for the first time. Maybe it is the toys, or maybe because the pace of the song reminds me how life was less busy when I was a child. There was time to get engrossed in pursuits, like Adam is engrossed in his music.

As the acclaimed author John Green says, once a book is available to the readers, it becomes the readers’ book. They can make of it whatever they wish to. They can interpret it any way that appears correct to them. I have applied the same logic to one of the lines in the lyrics of this song,

‘I’d like to make myself believe, that planet earth turns slowly’.

I have interpreted this to mean that our planet actually moves at a slow and measured pace. All our speed, our panic, our rush, it is invisible when we look at the earth from afar. Probably this is one of the most consoling parts of the song. Makes one want to stop everything and just watch the song in a loop as time slowly passes by.

There is magic, there is a disco ball, there are fireflies, there are toys all around, and the song is wonderful. And above all, we have planet earth turning, slowly. What more do we need in a song?

The song can be watched here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4

P. S.: For a scientific discussion on a certain mathematical aspect of the song you can follow the link below. This discussion is a testament that the scientists among us can apply the scientific method to all aspects of their life.

https://www.insider.com/owl-city-fireflies-song-lightning-bug-hug-meme-2017-6